General Information

Karo Murat has motored his way into a boxing career, and that is quite fitting since he is a man who likes fast cars in his free time. “If I had not become a professional boxer, then I would have taken a job as a car mechanic,” he said without any doubt. He came into boxing as a 13-year-old. “I would always watch big fights when I could and it just became logical for me to do that and win a World title,” he added reminiscently.

He first caught the eye with KSV Kitzingen, but he also competed for Würzburg, Eichstätt, Nürnberg and Hamm as an amateur. He made 118 fights, of which he won 90, but Murat always knew that he wanted to enter the world of professional boxing. Together with his friend Alexander Frenkel, he popped into the Sauerland Team boxing gym and was able to impress in sparring with the former European Champion Danilo Haussler.

On September 23, 2006, he made his professional debut. In Hattersheim, he defeated Slovakian Matus Sestak with a knockout in the first round. Since then, win has followed win and he has since become European Champion in Super-Middleweight thanks to a points victory over Cristian Sanavia in Neubrandenburg in April 2008. “Now I have secured the European Title, the aim has got to be to improve my performance even further and become more consistent.” Consistent he has become – he edged out Gabriel Campillo in September 2008 before stopping Sanavia in the tenth round of their rematch at the same venue.

Privately, Karo Murat is a rather modest guy. He is kind, helpful and friendly. His brother has a particularly big place in his heart. “The health of my family members is particularly important and that is also the case with Koko. On the other hand, he is also a boxer and so success is a priority. We both want to become World Champion one day. We will never fight each other, though, since we both fight in different weight categories,” said Murat.

His first boxing role model was ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed, but since the grandioso World Championsips title defence of IBF Champion Arthur Abraham against Edison Miranda in the ‘Battle of Wetzlar’ 2006, that has changed. “That was an incredible performance for the sheer willpower and spirit of determination. To still come through to the end despite breaking a jaw bone and then to win it was sensational,” enthused Murat.

Karo Murat also has a lot of respect for his coach Ulli Wegner. “For me it is very important to train with him,” he said. “He is my dream coach. He is a great man and has played a huge role in my development. Every word he pronounces is pure motivation for me,” added the Super-Middleweight fighter who was brought up in Kitzingen and now trains in the Max-Schmeling Gym at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.